Feeling a little down today? In our past blog post Coffee and Your Health: Current Findings, it was stated that coffee increases dopamine (a “feel-good” chemical) production in your brain, which in turn reduces symptoms of depression, especially in women. Unaware of this benefit, I decided to research this a little more to see exactly how coffee affects the stimulation of dopamine and how this can help improve your mood.

In case you didn’t know, dopamine is a neurotransmitter known for activating pleasure-enhancing properties by signaling reward within certain parts of your brain. It releases feelings of pleasure or satisfaction, and is usually in response to activities like eating favorite foods and sex. Dopamine makes you feel good, which in turn makes you crave it (and the triggers that help release dopamine) even more.

Depression for women is twice as more likely than for men. This is believed to be due to the changes in hormone levels that occur regularly throughout a woman’s life. Approximately 12 million women in America experience clinical depression each year, and is most common between the ages of 25 to 44. It is estimated that 17.5 million Americans in general suffer from depression every year. According to an article found on hsph.harvard.edu, the risk of suicide for adults who drank two to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day was cut in half compared to adults who drink decaffeinated or very little to no coffee.

According to the Huffington Post, Americans consume over 400 million cups of coffee per day, which is equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year. This makes the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the world. In a new study done by researchers from Harvard University, results showed that women who drink two to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a 15-20% lower risk of depression. This is because caffeine increases the production of dopamine in the brain’s pleasure circuits, thus becoming one of those triggers that release dopamine that we crave. It’s no surprise that so many Americans claim to be coffee addicts… they actually might be!

Coffee lovers rejoice. Next time you’re feeling a little down, trying drinking a cup of coffee… positive feelings come with every sip!

The life of a barista isn’t always easy—after all, a barista has to be cheerful and on his or her toes at 5am when the morning rush begins. However, despite the challenges, working as a “coffee slinger” has its rewards. Consider these secrets about the coffee business I learned from my days as a barista.

-Even when kept warm, old coffee is NOT good coffee. We had a policy at my store that coffee had to be tossed and remade every 30 minutes. When I first started, I thought that was a little crazy. However, after taste testing fresh coffee, 30-minute-old coffee and hour old coffee (all perfectly warm) I could tell a distinct difference.

-French pressed coffee is naturally sweeter and fuller bodied. I am a cream and sugar kind of girl, but even I can enjoy a nice medium roast coffee in the French press with nothing added. If you are looking to cut back on calories when drinking coffee, switching to pressed instead of brewed coffee is a great place to start.

-At 6am, coffee drinkers do not like to hear “no.” If we were out of a product, I learned which were good substitutes so that I could get caffeine pumping through my customers’ veins. For instance, an Americano is a good alternative to a dark roast brewed coffee.

-A bigger cup doesn’t always mean more “coffee.” For instance, at many popular chains a medium and large espresso-based drink will both contain two shots of espresso. You simply get more milk and sugar in a bigger drink.

-Fresh ground coffee makes a big difference. If you wonder why that cup of Joe at the coffee house is better than when you brew it at home, it could be a freshness issue. Most large coffee shops grind coffee throughout the day from a fresh bag of beans. If you’re using the bag you bought and had ground 3 weeks ago, you’re losing a lot of flavor.

The secrets of coffee are actually quite simple. Coffee can seem like an almost mystical product, but it all comes down to science. The right beans, grind, clean filtered water and a good brew or press method will produce a good cup of brew—each and every time.

]]>http://blog.cw-usa.com/?feed=rss2&p=3880Coffee and Your Health: Current Findingshttp://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=379
http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=379#commentsTue, 17 Jun 2014 16:37:04 +0000http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=379Continue reading →]]>One week we hear on the news that coffee has detrimental effects on the body; the next, we read on a CBSnews.com blog that coffee reduces depression. With so much flip-flopping over coffee and its effect on your health, how do we know what to believe?

It’s a good idea to go beyond the headline and lede when you see the words “scientific study” attached to any news item. I’ve discovered that, in many cases, these studies are funded by special interest groups. A PR firm hired by a popular coffee brand might fund a study to show that coffee lowers cholesterol as a retort to a big name news outlet reporting the opposite findings.

Choose from any of the topics, and you will be presented with a seemingly neverending chain of slideshow-formatted pages presenting “fact” after “fact” of purported scientific findings. Note that you will never run across a negative correlation between coffee and their widely recognized contradictions. In the rare case that you do, the spin doctors have neutralized the facts to make them seem benign and insignificant. Moreover, the majority of the studies’ summaries do not give essential details or link out to the full report. Another red flag are “statistical” studies which are poorly designed, as when the population samples are much too small from which to draw a legitimate conclusion.

In the name of science and truth, I waded through many recent studies pertaining to caffeine and found, on balance, that coffee — although slightly addictive — is surprisingly good for you. Not only does it have a positive effect on mental health, it’s good for the body, too.

-Coffee makes the ladies smile. By increasing dopamine production in the brain, this “feel good” chemical can lead to reduced symptoms of depression. Especially in women. [Source: Harvard University Study]

-Coffee wards off hypertension. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a chemical found in coffee has been proven to lower blood pressure. [Source: Cornell University Study]

-Coffee helps to you drop extra lbs. In a randomized, double-blind study funded by a the US government, coffee (specifically green coffee extract), was found to help the study’s participants to shed pounds and was effective in fighting obesity. [Source: National Institute of Health]

-Coffee is like a shield against liver failure. Lowering risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver by 66%, caffeine from coffee isn’t the mean bean some people make it out to be. [Source: National University of Singapore Study]

-Coffee lowers your chances of getting diabetes. Since 1986, studies have been conducted on huge population samples ending with the conclusion that coffee can decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Exercise and proper diet don’t hurt those chances, either [Source: Harvard School of Public Health Survey]

We also know that coffee is jam-packed with antioxidants — and is America’s number one source of these toxin-busing chemicals (according to the American Chemical Society). If you drink it black, it’s calorie-free.

What are some other benefits to being an avid coffee consumer? How has coffee helped your mental or physical health?

]]>http://blog.cw-usa.com/?feed=rss2&p=3790Green Tea and the “Feel Good Float”http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=369
http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=369#commentsWed, 04 Jun 2014 15:39:12 +0000http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=369Continue reading →]]>Have you ever felt a bit euphoric after a strong cup of quality green tea? No, this is not a coincidence of any kind — instead, this phenomenon known as “tea drunk” or “tea-induced euphoria” comes from a tiny little chemical unique to green tea: Theanine.

Theanine is an amino acid that makes up about half of the total amount of amino acids found in green tea. It adds to the aromatics and delicious flavor profile of green tea. Theanine promotes better absorption of antioxidants. Studies have shown that theanine has been found to enhance certain cancer-fighting drugs while reducing horrific side-effects.

Now for the fun part: If you drink a large cup of strong, freshly-picked green tea, you will notice some enjoyable psychoactive effects as well. Many people equate consumption of Theanine similar to the effects that would come from ingesting a small quantity of Valium. Theanine provides a relaxed state of alertness. It helps you calm down and focus. It has been studied for it’s ability to mitigate anxiety, mental, and physical stress as well as improving cognition and performance. Theanine works synergistically with caffeine to do so. It boosts alpha waves in the brain and increases levels of dopamine — a neurotransmitter that “helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers” as well as regulating emotions and emotional response. It is an all-natural “feel good” chemical produced inside the brain.

If you like the mood-boosting, stress-reducing, and stimulating feeling brought on by Theanine, you may be pleased to know that it has been extracted from green tea and is available as a supplement marketed as “L-Theanine” or “Suntheanine”, available at most vitamin and supplement shops. Or, you can just drink a couple cups of strong green tea. Pick from one of many brands and flavors of green tea on Coffee Wholesale. Bigelow and Pickwick green teas taste great, but if you are looking for a mood-boosting jolt, try a caffeinated green tea from Tazo (China Tips, Green Ginger, or Organic Chun Mee) or Mighty Leaf (Green Dragon, Jasmine, Hojicha, or Tropical Green). Brew longer for more noticable effects.

Have you ever experienced this feeling from an excellent cup of tea? We’d love to hear your experience with Theanine and mood-boosting green tea!

It’s Tuesday: statistically the day that I drink the most coffee. My scientific proof is that I drink two cups except on Tuesdays. I indulge in three. I’m a creature of habit like that. This is a boring coffee statistic, so let me introduce to you some fun and colorful coffee facts, by the numbers:

55% of coffee drinkers would rather gain 10 pounds than give up coffee for life.

Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year, making the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the world.

Coffee represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed in the United States, and it’s the most widely-used drug nationwide.

29% of coffee drinkers go to lower price places for their coffee like McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts,etc.

54% of coffee drinkers agreed that “coffee makes me feel more like myself.”

Seattle has 10 times more coffee stores per 100,000 residents than the United States has overall.

52% of coffee drinkers would rather go without a shower in the morning than give up coffee.

31% of coffee drinkers make coffee the most important part of a morning, brewing a cup first before any other morning behavior.

49% of coffee drinkers would rather give up their cell phone for a month than go without coffee.

20-30% of coffee sales are made up of flavored coffee. The five most popular flavors are chocolate, vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and cinnamon.

Hawaii and Puerto Rico are the only places in America where coffee can and is grown.

Three out of Five people say “I need a cup of coffee to start my day”

I can relate to only some of these. I definitely would say that I need a cup of coffee to start my day — you don’t? I could never go without a shower or giving up my cell phone for a month for some coffee. Sorry, I do not understand. But, the aforementioned, more ‘extreme’ statistics make me feel a little bit better about my own comparatively mild morning coffee habit. Do they make a coffee addiction rehab?

Attention tea lovers: you will be uber pleased to know that we are in the process of expanding our tea selections on Coffee Wholesale to include fine artisanal teas (oolongs, pu ehrs, rose tips, mate) … and other delicious varieties like the UK’s best-selling and most-adored tea, PG Tips. They are inexpensive (40 bags/box @ $7.50), made from the finest part of the tea leaf — the tip — and dried within hours of picking for maximum tastiness. The taste is mild, clean, and with the perfect balance of earthiness, and is boldly herbal.

This is a non-flavored tea that comes in pyramid-shaped bags. PG Tips were one of the first companies (if not THE first) that used tetrahedron shaped tea bags, which allow 50% more room for the tea to move around inside it’s paper infuser. The idea was to create a paper infuser that acts more like a normal pot of loose tea.

Quick history lesson: PG Tips date back to the 1930’s when it was called Pre-Gest-Tee, implying that the tea was effective in aiding digestion when consumed as an aperitif. Remember: this was a time in history in which heroin was still legal in the UK, so companies could get away with a labelling food and drug basically whatever they wanted to. After WW2, food and drink labelling regulations called ‘Tips out, because it was proven to not help in aiding digestion when consumed before a meal. This is when the name changed to PG Tips. “PG” came from the “pre-gest” and “Tips” came from the foodie-approved picking process: PG Tips only picks the top two tea leaves and bud of the tea plant.

Looking for a new favorite English Breakfast Tea? We NOW have the end-all/be-all of British black teas: PG Tips. You’re welcome!

]]>http://blog.cw-usa.com/?feed=rss2&p=3200Why Morning May be the Worst Time to Drink Coffeehttp://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=315
http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=315#commentsMon, 07 Apr 2014 20:13:46 +0000http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=315Continue reading →]]>It’s official, we now know that the morning is not the best time for you to consume coffee. I mean, you can, and with real no side effects from doing so, but it isn’t the healthiest or most logical choice when you look at the facts:

I drink two cups of coffee a day: one at 8 am when I am getting ready for work, and one at 9 am when I am just getting to work. A lot of people follow the same schedule I am on. Due to your body’s natural inborn clock, known as the circadian clock or circadian rhythms, your body produces different hormones throughout the day. Some hormones make you hungry, some make you energetic, some make you tired. Circadian rhythms govern hormone secretion and bodily functions. The hormone cortisol makes you feel awake and alert, a kind of “natural caffeine”. The body produces this hormone right around 8-9 am. The next time that you reach for your crusty office coffee mug during these hours, wait a minute and sit; reach into your consciousness to assess whether or not you actually need coffee at this time of day. Odds are, you are probably feeling adequately energized and can pass on the second (or first!) cup of joe.

Ever noticed how you get a little energy slump right after lunch? Around 2 pm? This is when alertness diminishes. This is also because of our circadian clock. During this time of day, many of us are apt to reach for a few quarters for the candy machine. Next time you catch yourself with the post-sandwich nods, swap that candy right out for that am coffee you skipped over while your cortisol was fully activated.

Drinking coffee during cortisol production can cause some problems: first, the coffee won’t work as well, because it’s effects are diminished by the natural speediness going on inside that cranium of yours. Second, you will build up a tolerance to caffeine quicker. Your body doesn’t notice much of a change in alertness, so you drink more. The higher your level of addiction is to caffeine, the worse your withdrawal symptoms become: headache, moodiness, anxiety, lethargy… ew, forget all that! According to this wicked cute infographic, the best time to consume your coveted coffee are between the hours of 9:30-11:30 am and 1:30-5:00 pm. I’ve been trying this for the past week and my energy levels have been more stabilized throughout the day more than average, and noticeably so.

What time do you drink coffee? Do you believe that changing the time you drink coffee can promote stabilized energy for the entire duration of the day?

]]>http://blog.cw-usa.com/?feed=rss2&p=3150Yerba Matehttp://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=308
http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=308#commentsTue, 25 Mar 2014 18:14:04 +0000http://blog.cw-usa.com/?p=308Continue reading →]]>I first heard about yerba mate at a local cafe when I was a sophomore in high school. This was 12 years ago. It was the only place in town that sold it at the time — a wildly popular coffee shop called World Cup. The shop has since ceased to exist, but the popularity of World Cup’s flagship tea was a yummy gem from South America called yerba mate. The now-defunct cafe was just the first of many locally-owned and independent coffee shops and/or tea houses that host this crowd-pleasing beverage.

Very few cafes actually serve this tea in the traditional manner, utilizing a traditional bombilla (a metal straw that also acts as the sieve filter), calabash gourd, steaming hot water, and of course, the yerba mate tea itself. This is how you traditionally prepare a gourd of mate:

1. Put the straw (bombilla) in the gourd before the tea leaves. Otherwise, the straw can become clogged.

4. Pour hot water (or steamed milk) to a couple cm below the top of the gourd, over the tea leaf mixture, to steep. Important note: boiling water will make your beverage too bitter! The best way to heat the water is in a pan, so you can see the water start to simmer and move; this is the best temperature for tasty mate.

5. After a couple minutes, your strong and earthy-tasting tea beverage is ready to be savored. Enjoy!

Yerba mate was first discovered and documented in Paraguay, 1537. Mate tea ceremonies were established in Paraguay, but mate eventually found its peak popularity in Argentina, followed by Brazil, Uruguay, and then the surrounding areas. In the late 1700’s/1800’s, due to the Paraguayan Golden Age, Paraguay became a major export/import location to European countries. It also became popular amongst the upper class in Chile, making the crop lucrative to produce. By the 20th century, yerba mate was popping up worldwide. It made a somewhat recent revival in popularity in the popular culture of the late 1990’s/early 2000’s in North America and has been one of the world’s best-selling teas. The yerba mate ritual was a communal event, enjoyed in the company of friends. In South America especially, this ritual continues to be significant in bringing people together — friends and strangers alike.

Yerba mate contains 24 essential vitamins and minerals; 15 amino acids; and 11 polyphenois (antioxidants), but is popular for its notable energizing effect: mateine. Or is it caffeine? There’s much debate on whether mateine is different or the same of caffeine. Mateine is a stereoisomer of caffeine; it appears to have the same effect as caffeine with the added benefit of a muscle relaxant. Today, it’s easy to find and purchase traditional loose yerba mate — they even sometimes come as a kit with the traditional gourd and bombilla. Your other option is to take the easy way out and enjoy yerba mate tea in tea bags, or for a real treat, enjoy a mate latte — a steamed yerba mate and milk-based beverage served at many independent coffee shops that sell loose yerba mate in bulk.

Have you ever tried yerba mate? Did you drink it out of the traditional gourd and metal straw or some other method? Let us know!

Measure the brown sugar into a glass coffee mug. Pour prepared coffee into mug and stir to dissolve sugar. While stirring, pour in the whiskey shot. After the beverage has stilled, using an extra large spoon, carefully place thick cream over the coffee. Drink the beverage through the cream for a delicious, caffeinated and slightly boozy morning.

Coffee Guinness Float

• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream

• 1/2 cup brewed, chilled coffee

• 1 1/2 cup Guinness draught

You know you’ll love this one simply from reading the name, but I guarantee this is even more delicious than you’d think. It does involve a little planning ahead: first, brew unflavored, bold coffee and chill (covered) in the fridge for at least two hours. Using either a traditional Guinness pint glass or a regular pint glass (holds 2 cups or 16 oz.), take a scoop of high quality vanilla ice cream (we like Breyers® Natural Vanilla) and scoop it out into the bottom of the pint glass. Next, pour in a half cup of cold coffee over the ice cream. Finally, top off with Guinness draught. Ideally, you would use an actual nitrogen keg from a bar — but unless you own or manage a restaurant, this isn’t going to happen; no worries, though: just use a can or bottle of Guinness draught (READ: DO NOT confuse with Guinness Extra Stout). To properly pour (and this is very important when you tend with Guinness), open bottle or can and quickly turn completely upside-down over the pint glass. A “widget rocket”, an ingenious device by Guinness, will enhance the nitrogen solution to impart a smooth taste and also will allow the beer to develop a creamy head. When it’s full, stop pouring even if there is beer left in the container (we don’t imagine this will be a problem).

Irish Car Bomb

• Guiness Draught

• Baileys (Irish Cream)

• Irish Whiskey

If you haven’t heard of this, you didn’t go to college. Or maybe you did, but studied too much. Either way, here’s how to pull off this classic late night beverage. Reading over ingredient list, you may notice that the exact measurements aren’t important. What’s important is chugging this beverage as quickly as you can, or it will curdle (gross). Impressively (and this may surprise you), Guinness is one of the easiest beers to chug because there is no carbonation (only nitrogen) and although dark in color and rich in taste, it is low in calories. Do not be afraid: Pour a half pint of Guinness. Next, fill a shot glass halfway first with the Irish Cream and float (i.e. pour very slowly) whiskey on top of the cream. Now, in one fell swoop, drop the shot glass in the pint glass and drink as fast as you can!

Our cocktail runner-up is, unsurprisingly, the White Russian (featuring Kahlua: coffee-flavored rum). Also imperative to mention is just a few of the world’s rich variety of coffee-flavored liqueurs: Patron “XO Cafe” or Patron “XO Cafe” Dark Cocoa Coffee Liqueur (both coffee flavored high end tequila); Van Gogh Espresso Vodka, and Baileys. We didn’t even list any delicious coffee-flavored porters, stouts, and other microbrews. Any other boozy coffee beverages that you love that didn’t make our list? Leave your tips and tricks in our comments!

I love tea so much I just made a rhyme. And if you’ve had the life-changing experience like I have of sipping some of the most delicious tea in the Western world, you might feel so inclined to pop out a rhyme or two yourself!

Here at Coffee Wholesale USA, we sell top notch tea brands like Tazo (which you may have spotted at Starbucks), Mighty Leaf, Tropical Tea, and Pickwick — amongst others. I have travelled far and wide in search of tea that will blow your mind. Some are creative and delicious. And stronger varieties of green tea, contain L-Theanine: a feel-good compound that increases the effectiveness of GABA receptors in the brain. Low GABA levels are associated with panic disorder and other anxiety-related disorders. The result of these green tea varieties is a relaxed state of alertness; I feel happy and almost like I’m floating… similar to the visceral feeling I get laying in meditation after a grueling 90 minute hot yoga class. All-natural ecstasy. If you’ve never consumed a cup of tea that has left you feeling a little bit like this, you have been drinking the wrong kind of tea. That being said, it’s definitely not all about the unexpected body high. It’s about the taste. The aroma. The simple and beautiful aesthetics you can find in some artisanal varieties of the world’s oldest brewed beverage. At Coffee Wholesale, we are looking to bring to you the best of the best in tea and coffee.

I’ve worked hard to compile a master list of my favorite teas in the whole world. I have a background as a barista and tea blender/quality control manager. If you are an every morning English breakfast-er with dry toast, you might turn your nose up at this rather unconventional list of teas. Hopefully my list won’t incite the second Boston Tea Party.

1. Matcha: Have you ever heard of the Japanese tea ceremony or ‘chanoyu’? Read through the traditionally lengthy ritual and you may be thinking, “why is this tea so important?” Matcha is one of the most expensive teas available — a very finely ground tea leaf ranging in price from medium grade to high grade. And the taste is phenomenal. Chefs and baristas use low to medium grade matcha (and just a pinch is necessary) to create green tea smoothies, green tea lattes, green tea cookies — pretty much anything that defines itself as “green tea (fill in the blank)”, you are getting the color and flavor from matcha.

2. Rooibos is a beautiful and unique tea because, when mixed and hand picked correctly, has a fruity yet earthy taste — with a subtle hint of floral. Rooibos is made from the South African red bush plant. The color of Scarlet Citrus Rooibos is a stunning red with tiny pieces of orange peel, hibiscus, lemon myrtle, lemon verbena, rosemary and other dried fruits, as well as hints of vanilla. Coffee Wholesale sells Tazo Scarlet Citris Rooibos in individually-wrapped bags which is 100% natural and caffeine free. Did we mention no artificial colors or preservatives? MEM Tea also produces powdered rooibos varieties for rooibos lattes and milkshakes!

3. Bloomin’ Tea. This is also known as flower tea and as a complete sucker for packaging, I am head over heels in love with this variety. MEM Tea Importers sells three varieties of Flower Tea and Teavana carries a few varieties as well. Basically, you buy the tea in a ball. Then, you invest in a glass teapot, plop in the tea ball, followed by very hot water (not boiling), and watch the magic literally unfurl before your eyes!

4. Mighty Leaf’s Vanilla Bean: Black tea with vanilla reminds me of tea time at the Ritz Carlton. It takes milk and honey amazingly well and is a smooth and luxurious brew… Find it HERE on Coffee Wholesale and prepare to be amazed at the Madagascar vanilla and the 100% biodegradable handmade silken pyramid tea bags! Pro tip: eat with crumpets, scones, and tiny cucumber sandwiches without crusts.

5. Organic Pu-Erh. Another mind blower: have you ever tried fermented tea? This one is a must-try. Aged for years, this dark, red amber tea hails from the Yunnan province in China. The aroma is pungent, with hints of aged cheese, mushroom, and cocoa. It is a good idea to rinse the tea before brewing.